South Los Angeles CountySwell Models and Forecast Charts

Southern California Swell Heights

The CDIP (Coastal Data Imaging Program) 90-hour Regional Forecast gives us a 3-day window into the future of near-shore swell height with the data broken out into 6-hour increments, showing us how big the swell will be as it moves into the region. It is important to note that this is a “swell forecast” so it shows you how much swell makes it into the map but not how big the surf will be in the breakzone. The “regional” charts cover much more ground and show more of what is happening offshore letting you see how the swell initially starts to bend in from deep water and where the majority of the energy is going to concentrate as it moves closer to the coast...more information

Southern California Winds

The COAMPS charts we primarily use are what are called the 10-meter wind-stream charts. These maps basically show a combination of wind speed (in the color scale) and the wind directions, denoted by the directional arrows on the wind-streams. These maps are good since they give us a 72-forecast that is broken out hour-by-hour…essentially allowing us to see with great detail how the winds will be blowing at different times throughout the day...more information

North Pacific Swell Periods

The SWELL PERIOD FORECAST CHART show us a full 7-day forecast of the PEAK WAVE PERIODS. Wave periods are a different way of measuring and tracking wave energy. Generally stormy seas/swells die down quickly as they leave the area of the winds that generated them and so the PEAK WAVE PERIODS charts allow you to follow the swell as it leaves the storm and track it, hopefully to your destination. If you use these charts along with the SIGNIFCANT SWELL HEIGHT charts you will be able to find storms and track swells the produce anywhere in the world...more information

North Pacific Wave Heights

THE SIGNIFICANT SWELL HEIGHT FORECAST CHARTS show us a full 7-day forecast of significant swell and sea heights occurring worldwide. The charts are built using a combination of weather models that predict wind fetch occurring strength at sea-level. These charts are best viewed in very large scale sizes, such as ocean basins, where you can see the scope, direction and intensity of storm systems as they move through your swell windows...more information

North Pacific Winds

The WIND Forecast is a combination of several levels of data…Sea Level Pressure (represented by the Isobars lines), Dominant Wind Directions (represented by the small black arrows), and Wind Speeds (that are represented by the color underneath the other two data sets). These large-scale winds are useful for tracking a storm’s strength and also keeping an eye on weather and wind conditions at your location so you can score when swell arrives...more information

South Pacific Swell Periods

The SWELL PERIOD FORECAST CHART show us a full 7-day forecast of the PEAK WAVE PERIODS. Wave periods are a different way of measuring and tracking wave energy. Generally stormy seas/swells die down quickly as they leave the area of the winds that generated them and so the PEAK WAVE PERIODS charts allow you to follow the swell as it leaves the storm and track it, hopefully to your destination. If you use these charts along with the SIGNIFCANT SWELL HEIGHT charts you will be able to find storms and track swells the produce anywhere in the world...more information

South Pacific Wave Heights

THE SIGNIFICANT SWELL HEIGHT FORECAST CHARTS show us a full 7-day forecast of significant swell and sea heights occurring worldwide. The charts are built using a combination of weather models that predict wind fetch occurring strength at sea-level. These charts are best viewed in very large scale sizes, such as ocean basins, where you can see the scope, direction and intensity of storm systems as they move through your swell windows...more information

South Pacific Winds

The WIND Forecast is a combination of several levels of data…Sea Level Pressure (represented by the Isobars lines), Dominant Wind Directions (represented by the small black arrows), and Wind Speeds (that are represented by the color underneath the other two data sets). These large-scale winds are useful for tracking a storm’s strength and also keeping an eye on weather and wind conditions at your location so you can score when swell arrives...more information